National Election Day rolls around every four years and falls on the first Tuesday in November. That puts us behind countries like Australia, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which all have higher participation rates than the United States. If 118 million people did it in 2018 without a holiday, why do we need to shut down the post office and close the banks to get them to do it again? If not, youre out. For more information, please see our Folks who follow the news and keep up with current events sometimes forget theyre in the minority. Managing Editor 25, 2016, Chris Talgo, "Make Election Day a National Holiday? And that enabled us to essentially fill our needs of staffing the elections. But if you must, then I insist we move the election to April 15, Tax Day, to remind everyone how much these elections cost. This article was published on October 1, 2020, at Britannicas ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source. Over 60 court cases reviewed the evidence and judgesappointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents alikereached the same conclusion: there was no compelling evidence of fraud. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Trying one of these alternatives would avoid the negative economic impact of closing businesses for Election Day. While making Election Day a national holiday or moving it to the weekend would by no means be a cure-all, it could be used in conjunction with other strategies like Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Election Day in the United States has occurred on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November ever since PresidentJohn Tylersigned an 1845 law establishing a specific voting day for the entire country. In 1800, 83% of the American labor force was agrarian, but today only 11% of total US employment is agriculture-related. This year, more than 30 million Americans had already voted two weeks before todays Election Day an electoral surge never seen before. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to make Election Day a state holiday, but some worry about unintended consequences. Colorado College recently decided to give students the day off on Nov. 3. Lets assume there wont be an election holiday anytime soon not until Democrats control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. What other improvements could be made to voting and Election Day? In the 2016 presidential election, 14% of registered voters cited being too busy or having a conflicting schedule as the main reason they didnt cast their ballots, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data. Benson is dreaming big, and in doing so shes getting out in front of a lot of the conspiracy fueled calls for election reform from some Republicans. Why or why not? Opponents say it allows only a few states to select the president. Should People Who Have Completed Felony Sentences Be Allowed to Vote? WebElection Day National Holiday; Electoral College; Lowering the Voting Age to 16; Voting Machines; Ronald Reagan; Bill Clinton; Election Day National Holiday: Top 3 Pros and Cons. By registering through a routine and necessary transaction such as those at the DMV, voters wont have to worry about registration deadlines or application submissions. America is walking the knifes edge between maintaining and losing democracy. If so, how? WebMaking election day a holiday might seem to have very few drawbacks, but because many of the people who would actually benefit from the holiday are unlikely to even be able to On WDETs Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson, Benson emphasized that making Election Day a holiday would make it easier toattractmore election workers. At the heart of the debate is voter turnout give more people the day off, more people will go out of their way to head to the polls. Here are five reasons why Election Day should be a national holiday. High turnout means that people are successfully exercising their rights-a good in itselfbut it also ensures the continuing health of majority rule. Waste of money. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus data on nonvoters, registered voters from households making more than $150,000 are most likely to say they dont have time to turn out on Election Day. Sanctuary Cities: Top 3 Pros and Cons Kneeling during the National Anthem: Top 3 One way to judge that: prioritized legislation. . Virginia Gov. Dont give the nation a day off, but do a better job of giving voters options for getting involved. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/election-day-national-holiday-top-3-pros-and-cons/, potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day, election day should not be a national holiday. 14, 2019, BBC, "Singapore Election: Governing Party Secure Decisive Win, bbc.com, Sep. 12, 2015, Holly Jackson, "It's Time to Make Election Day a Holiday in Law and Spirit," washingtonpost.com, Oct. 22, 2018, BCP Associates, "India Elections 2019 - Declaration of Paid Holiday on Polling Day, bcpassociates.com, Apr. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy, many sweeping changes she would like to see, the conspiracy fueled calls for election reform, On WDETs Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson. Tuesday was chosen because it was most convenient for farmers traveling by horse and buggy at the time. Privacy Policy. Elections are federal holidays in Singapore, which, when combined with mandatory voting, resulted in a voter turnout of 93.6% for the 2015 election of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Virginia Gov. ProCon.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. However, I feel like this is painting with a broad stroke. And that the reason why the Dems don't win more often is because of low voter turn-out because they can't afford to leave their jobs. Rationality and coherent argument are encouraged, whereas ideological flamewars are strongly discouraged. HR 1, also known as the For The People Act.. It shouldnt all come down to just one day., Despite Olive Branch from Whitmer,GOPShowing No Interest in Cooperation in2021, A Michigan Reporters Harrowing Experience Inside Capitol DuringInsurrection, New Year Means New Democratic Majority on State SupremeCourt. These changes would send a strong rebuke to those who are attempting to scale back voting rights and make it more difficult for African-Americans and Latinos to vote. Tina Barton, a Republican Rochester Hills City Clerk has a lot of those questions, and more. This is a stressful, insecure time for many. We would put in place automatic voter registration, same-day registration, extended voting days, Election Day as a National Holiday, and other reforms, including mandatory voting (vote or pay a moderate fine) as practiced in Australia, Belgium, and much of Latin America, with a None of the Above option that would trigger a new election if it wins. John M. Cunningham, "Why Are U.S. While Barton isnt for or against making Election Day a holiday, one thing she is definitely on board with is getting more people to vote. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. ", "While it is the purview of the states to set election rules, I will encourage them to make voting fair and easily accessible for all voters.". Giving people the day to vote would be the first public holiday in the United States. There was a Reddit comment saying that the only reason Republicans oppose Election Day being a national holiday is because it'll result in a higher turnout, which would almost completely ensure the Democrats will win for the foresable future. However, making National Election Day a holiday will disadvantage low-income and blue-collar workers. COLUMN: Point Counterpoint: There are pros and cons to making Election Day a national holiday, OKLAHOMA WATCH: For tenants behind on rent, ant, Armstrong Bank appoints Aston Armstrong Hudson , OKLAHOMA WATCH: School report cards released, b, Keys secure Districts sweep against Colgate, Doctor accused of killing nurse released on bond, Man accused of sexting minor to appear in court, Business owner accused of obstructing an officer has undisclosed offer revised, EVERYDAY HEROES: Photog overcomes challenges to earn degree, BERRY BEST TIME: Strawberry growers in Adair County start selling crop, Man accused of killing three people denied demand for admissibility hearing, Man charged with murder of deputys daughter pleads not guilty, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DOWNTOWN TAHLEQUAH: 2023 RED FERN FESTIVAL. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. 3. Changing state laws and individual companies policies would be more effective ways to help people vote. He previously reported on the Michigan Legislature for the Michigan Public Radio Network. WebAt the opening of Congress this past January, House Democrats introduced a proposal to make Election Day a national holiday. Other countries take heroic efforts to ensure that people can vote if they desire. Overall, White adults are less likely to favor making Election Day a national holiday and automatically registering all eligible citizens to vote than are Black, Hispanic 5. Many states have already declared National Election Day a civic holiday, which is an occasion to commemorate America's history, celebrate our rights and responsibilities as citizens, and learn about our constitutional ideals. Compulsory voting. In 2018, Pew Research found that 65% of voters surveyed supported Election Day being a national holiday. That year, just over 36% of eligible voters showed up. Consider the potential benefits and difficulties of changing election day. Yes, its true Americas voting age is lower than some other developed countries. Arizona, for example, allows employees who do not have three consecutive hours before or after work when the polls are open to take paid time off to vote at the start or end of their work days. All this despite the fact that these types of restrictions have typically been considered illegal under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires that elections be equally open to all people. The U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 for voter among Election Day could be made a federal holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. One must By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. While no state has proposed reinstating the literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses that effectively ended the burst of African-American franchise during Reconstruction, todays efforts to disenfranchise minority voters are similarly unsubtle. 14 . Explain your answer. If you make election day a federal holiday, youll have all the people who work in these types of jobs still having to work, being inundated with customers who have the day off and they wont have child care because the schools will be closed, Suzanne Lucas, who previously worked in human resources, wrote in a piece for Inc.com. Other solutions would more reliably increase voter turnout than a national holiday. a list of voting rights provisions he would support, Congress in 2019: The need for bipartisan action on voting rights and election integrity, Voting rights, the next Attorney General, and a less divided America, Republicans in 48 states have introduced 389 bills, Generational change divides GOP, unites Democrats. 11 . See the pros and cons of declaring Election Day a holiday across the nation. Creating laws in all states that let people vote before or after work would be more effective than a holiday. Jake Neher is senior producer for Detroit Today and host of MichMash for 101.9 WDET. WebProCon.org - Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues Kneeling during National Anthem US Presidents on Money PROS AND CONS OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES PROCON.ORG HEADLINES - Our Issues in the News Are DACA and the DREAM Act Good for America? A number of bills like the Weekend Voting Act have been proposed in Congress over the years, often by Democrats.
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